Loading-tray for transferring ammunition.



N0. 697,l26. Patented Apr. 8, I902.

J. BECKER.

LOADING TRAY FUR TRANSFERRING AMMUNITION.

(Application filed Jan. 2, 1902.)

I (No Model.) ZSheets-Sheef I.

No. 697,126. Pafented Apr. 8, I902. J. BECKER.

LOADING TRAY FOR TRANSFERBING AMMUNITION.

(Application filed Jan. 2, 190;.) (No Model.)

2 Shets-Sheet 2.

JULIUS BECKER, OF ESSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO FRIED. KRUPP, OF ESSEN, GERMANY LOADING-TRAY FOR TRANSFERRING AMMUNITION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 697,126, dated April 8, 1902.

Application filed January 2, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS BECKER, engineer, residing at Essen-on-the-Ruhr, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loading-Traysfor Transferring Ammunition, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to those guns to which ammunition is supplied through the medium of an ammunition-lift located to one side thereof and introduced into the gun by means of a ram; and the said invention has for its object to transfer the ammunition from the lift to the loading-axis of the gun with the least possible expenditure of work. According to this invention this purpose is accomplished through the medium of parts arranged in the form of a jointed quadrangle, having one side formed by the loading-tray, with the sideopposite the loading-tray fixed or so disposed that the are in which the tray swings lies in a vertical or substantially vertical plane and its chord is horizontal or approximately horizontal. In other words, the tray swings from one side to the other of the vertical planes of its pivots.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, the invention is illustrated by two embodiments.

Figure 1 is a view of the loading'tray looking away from the gun and in position to receive'the ammunition from the lift.- Fig. 2

is a corresponding view of the loading-tray in the loading position. Figs. 3 and a show intermediate positions of the loading-tray, likewise viewed from the position of the gun. Fig.

5 is an elevation of the right-hand side of Fig. 3, partly in section, on the line 5 5 of said figure. Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of Serial No 88,076- (No modelis rigidly attached. The upper arlnG of this angle-lever is constructed as a controllinglever, which travels in the guiding-slot of a frame L and is adapted to be locked ateither end of its throw in said slot by means of a locking-bolt M or the like. Parallel to the lower arm g ofthe angle-lever and upon the opposite end of the shaft F is rigidly fixed a lever f of the same length as the arm g. To the end of each of the levers f and g is connected a link H, which connects with the eyes (I- of the loading-tray D. These links are of the same length as the arn E and are ar ranged parallel to the latter. In this manner the parts D, E, II, and f or y constitute a jointed quadrangle, which when the anglelever G g is fixed in one,of its limits of movement can swing upon the side or fbackward and forward between the ammunitionlift and the gun. For restricting this movement two projections 0 I are provided on each end of the shaft Q, and corresponding arresting-stops ,R S are located upon the platform. There is also an arm 0 fixed upon the shaft 0 between the two bearings 13, with which is connected the piston-rod of the hydraulic driving-cylinder K, pivotallymounted upon the platform of the carriage, so that when fluid-pressure is introduced to the cylinder for the movement of its piston a swinging movement is imparted'to theloading-tray.

After the reception of the ammunition the several parts assume the position shown in Fig. 1. After the ammunition has been shifted from the lift to the loading-tray fluid-pressure is admitted above the piston of the cylinder K, so that the piston moves downward and the loading-tray receives a swinging movement in the direction of the arrow as, Fig. 1. At the end of the piston-stroke the projection O strikes against the stop R, which limits the movement of the loading-tray and absorbs in a great measure the momentum of the moving parts, so as to relieve the motor. In this position of the loading-tray, Fig. 2, and as 'soon as the ram has shifted the ammunition far enough to relieve the loadingtray the controlling-lever. G is thrown from the position indicated by I to the position indicated by II, in consequence of which the loading-tray is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 3, and while in this position its track will not intersect that of the ram. Consequently the loading-tray can be swung back into the receiving position before the ram begins to withdraw. At this time the under side of the piston is supplied with fluid-pressure, so that the loading-tray swings in the direction of the arrow y, Fig. 3, to the posi-- tion shown in Fig. 4. The swinging movement is nowrestricted at the end of the piston-stroke by the stop S, upon which the projection P impinges. The controlling-lever is now thrown to the .position I, and the loading-tray is thereby brought again into the position to receive a new charge of ammunition, as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 6 an embodiment of the loadingtray is illustrated, in which the under side of the jointed rectangle remains constantly fixed. The shifting of the loading-tray in such a way that its track will not intersect that of the ram is obviously discarded in this case, and the links are not of equal length with the arms nor are they parallel therewith.

Obviously any desired motor could be substituted for the hydraulic motor illustrated in the drawings.

Having thus described the invention, the I following is what is claimed as new therein l. A device for transferring ammunition from a receiving-point to the loading-axis of a gun, comprising a quadrangular structure swinging upon pivots located between the vertical planes of said receiving-point and loading-axis, one side of the quadrangle formed by the loading-tray, and said loading-tray 'moving in a vertical arc with its chord horizontal or approximately horizontal.

2. Aloading-tray for transferring ammunition from the lift to the loading-axis of the gun, comprising a jointed quadrangular structure swinging upon horizontal axes, having one side formed by the loading-tray, the side of the quadrangle opposite the loadingtray being shiftable substantially as described to change the angle of the loading-tray and permit its return to receiving position prior to the withdrawal of the ramrner.

3. A loading-tray for transferring ammunition from the lift to the loading-axis of the gun,comprisingajointedquadrangular structure swinging upon horizontal axes, having being shiftable substantially as described to change the angle of the loading-tray and permit its return to receiving position prior to the withdrawal of the rammer, and having a controlling-lever for shifting said side, provided with means forlocking it at the opposite ends of its throw.

5. Aloading-tray for transferring am munition from the lift to the loading-axis of the gun,comprising a jointed quadrangularstructure swinging upon horizontal axes, located between the vertical planes of the lift and of the axis of the gun, having one side formed by the loading-tray, and suitable stops for limiting the throw of the loading-tray, engaging part of the swinging structure near .the axes upon which it swings.

6.. A loading-tray for transferring ammunition from the lift to the loading-axis of the .gun,comprisinga jointed quadrangular structure swinging upon horizontal axes, located between the vertical planes of the a'mmunition-lift and of the loading-axis, having one side formed by the loading-tray, a motor lo cated and connected with the structure adjacent to the axis uponwhich it swings, for swinging. the quadrangle from side to side, and, bringing the loading-tray from one position to another, and suitable stops for limiting the motion of said parts, engaging a part of the swinging structure adjacent to said axes.

7. An ammunition-conveyor foi' transferring ammunition laterally from the ammunition-lift to the loading-axis of the gun, comprising a quadrangular structure having one side formed by the loading-tray, swinging upon horizontal axes in a vertical are having a substantially horizontal chord, an arm connected with one side of the quadrilateral structure near its axis, and a motor-cylinder and. piston, one of which is pivotally connected to a fixed support and the other of which is connected to said projections.

8. An ammunition-conveys! comprising a rectangular structure having one side formed by a loading-tray, horizontal axes located between the vertical planes of the receivingpoint and the loading-axis of the gun, and causing the tray to swing in a vertical arc with a substantially horizontal axis, stops located near said axes, and arms ,projecting from the uadran ular structure near the axes, engaging said stops as the tray reaches the opposite limits of its movement.

9. An ammunition conveyer comprising concentric horizontal shafts (J and F,long arm E and angularly-disposed short arm f projecting from said shafts, link H, jointed to the short arm f, tray D jointed to arm E and link H, arm 0 projecting from shaft 0, and motor K secured to a fixed support and connected with the arm 0.

10. In an ammunition-eonveyer, the combination of the concentric shafts O and F,

arms E, E, projecting from the shaft C, arms f, g, projecting from the shaft F, links H, II,

jointed to the arms f, g, and paralleling the arms E, E, and tray D having hinging connection with arms E, E, and links H, H.

11. In an ammnnition-conveyer, the combination of the concentric shafts O and F, arms E, E, projecting from the shaft 0, arms f, g, projecting from the shaft F, links H, H, jointed to the arms f, g, and paralleling the arms E, E, tray D having hinging connection with arms E, E, and links H, H, and stop-arms O, P, projecting from shaft 0.

- 12. In an ammnnition-conveyer, the combination of the concentric shafts O and F, arms E, E, projecting from shaft 0, arms f, g, r 5 projecting from-the shaft F, links H, H, jointed to the arms f, 'g, and paralleling the arms E, E, tray D having hinging connection with arms E, E, andlinks H, H, stop-arms O,P, projecting from shaft 0, stops B, S, impinged by said stop-arms at opposite ends of the trays movement, and controlling-arm 0 also projecting from shaft G.

13. In an ammnnition-conveyer, the combination of the concentric shafts O and F, arms E, E, projecting from shaft 0, arms f, g, projecting from the shaft F, links H, H,

jointed to the arms f, g, and paralleling the arms E, E, tray 1) having hinging connection with arms E, E, andlinks I-I, H,stop-arms 0,1, projecting from shaft 0, stops R, S, impinged by said stop-arms at opposite ends of the trays movement, controlling-arm 0; also projecting from shaft C, and motor-cylinder K pivoted to a fixed support and having its piston connected with arm 0.

14. In an ammunition-conveyer, the combination of theconcentric shafts O and 1*, arms E, E, projecting from the shaft C, arms f, g, projecting from the shaft F, links H, H, jointed to the arms f, g, and paralleling the arms E, E, trayD having hinging connection with arms E, E, and links H, H, and lever G connected with shaft F gie'of'srms f, g, thereby tilting the tray.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

for changing the anv JULIUS BECKER, Witnesses:

PETER LIEBER,

WILLIAM Essnnwnm.

relatively to arms E, E, and 

